Franchised dealers could be taking a much larger share of business in the lucrative fleet sector, but are still falling short in a number of key areas, including the level and reliability of service they provide.

This is the message Mark Connor (pictured), operations director at Zenith, the independent leasing and fleet management provider, will bring to the AM Aftersales Conference 2015. Connor is the final main stage speaker to be confirmed. 

Zenith was established in 1989 as a specialist provider of bespoke fleet solutions for mid to large corporates. Its customer base includes household brands and some of the biggest organisations in the UK.

In both 2012 and 2013 Zenith was named the Fleet News 'Leasing Company of the Year' - an industry first. It was then 'highly commended' in the same category in 2014 as Zenith, and in 2015 as Zenith Leasedrive Group.  In 2015 Zenith Leasedrive group won the Fleet News Customer Service Award.

According to Connor, independent garages provide a competitive and attractive offering for fleets: "This is not a franchised versus independent debate, but dealers that want to take a larger piece of the fleet sector need to take on board some key considerations - and it is those dealers who deliver the best blend of service and price who will be successful in the long run,” he said.

"It is also about making sure the basics are covered - that the dealer can be trusted to deliver on their promises. Often, the service from an independent is better because the relationship is better - the price is lower, the level of unwelcome upsell is less, and the flexibility to meet immediate needs is greater."

As well as a range of main stage speakers from the automotive sector and beyond, there will be workshops covering a wide variety of aftersales topics with the goal of helping franchised dealers become more profitable.

Further details on speakers and workshops will continue to be announced on the event website www.aftersalesconference.co.uk.

Tickets are available to dealers and manufacturers, with a limited number of supplier tickets on sale. To book, please contact Emma-Louise Kinnaird on 01733 395133, email emma-louise.kinnaird@bauermedia.co.uk or visit the booking pages.